NBCWashington.com has compiled some of the reaction from Barack Obama's historic win in Tuesday's election. When you finish reading, send your own thoughts on what happened Tuesday night and what it means for the future to votervoices@nbcwashington.com. We may share your thoughts online and on NBC4.
Mainstream Media
President Obama
"It is momentous for the generational change it heralds, the geographic realignment it reflects and the racial progress it both acknowledges and promises. Most of all, Mr. Obama's victory is momentous for the opportunity it presents to put the country on a new and better path, imbued, as he said last night, with a new spirit of patriotism, service and responsibility." (The Washington Post)
McCain Campaign: Warrior's Last Hurrah
"But even (John McCain) could not rise above what faced him this election - a toxic environment for Republicans, with an unpopular, even despised, President Bush, a late-campaign economic meltdown that favored Democrats, and a man who seemed from the outset destined to be president, the first black nominee, who also had more money to spend that any other candidate in history." (Washington Times)
Let Hope Grow from this Historic Day
Politics
Political news from the U.S. Capitol, White House and around Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia
"And so America has chosen Barack Obama as our next chief executive. Now it can truly be said that every young American can dream of growing up to someday become President of the United States. The Examiner offers its sincere congratulations and best wishes to President-elect Obama. There is no time to waste in bringing the country together, so it is vitally important he act wisely and prudently between now and his inauguration if he is to become leader of the nation, not just a partisan political leader." (Washington Examiner)
The Next President
"His triumph was decisive and sweeping, because he saw what is wrong with this country: the utter failure of government to protect its citizens. He offered a government that does not try to solve every problem but will do those things beyond the power of individual citizens: to regulate the economy fairly, keep the air clean and the food safe, ensure that the sick have access to health care, and educate children to compete in a globalized world." (New York Times)
Which Barack Obama will Govern?
"Now, as Obama moves through his transition to the White House, this effort to square the political circle becomes the defining challenge in the months ahead. Which Barack Obama will dominate as he begins to govern? Too much of the ambitious liberal, and he rekindles partisan squabbles he was supposed to transcend. Too much the cautious mediator who reaches across the aisle to compromise with Republicans, and he risks losing the energy and idealism that attracted millions to his candidacy." (LA Times)
Obama and America
Obama’s victory is one of those events that reveal how far the nation has traveled. When he was born in 1961, African-Americans risked death merely to register to vote in some Southern states. The pivotal civil rights and voting rights laws had yet to be enacted. Yet today, the nation is willing to entrust its future to a man whose father was black. His election is a moving vindication of the ideals on which this nation was founded. (Chicago Tribune)
Local Blogs
Obama Victory Celebrations on U Street
"Holy cow this was amazing. First, I waited on line this morning for almost two hours to vote. That has never happened to me in the many elections I’ve voted in before. You knew something special was brewing. You could sense it, practically taste it. And sure enough the victory celebrations have been amazing. At midnight you could walk anywhere on U Street from 9th Street to 14th Street and the streets were flowing with folks celebrating. There was honking cars, dancing, singing, fireworks, chants, you name it. I imagine it was like a combination of a World Cup, World Series and Super Bowl victories wrapped up in one." (Prince of Petworth)
What a Happy, Historic Moment!
"Just spent a little while with J outside in the drizzle, celebrating with neighbors. We cheered cars that drove by, and they honked and waved back. A random group of revelers was celebrating in front of the Tivoli. A group of younger folks down the block actually broke into song, Give Peace a Chance, and a bunch of those who planned ahead are setting off fireworks. The next 4 years are going to be fun here in DC, starting with the inauguration!" (Mr. T in DC)
Video Reaction
And then there's this reaction in Boston:
